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a lot has to do with EPA tightening the rules on coke fired blast furnaces in USA, and putting big import tariffs on foreign steel.
less pollution, but now it has effectively put a damper on a big % of raw steel production.
steel scrap has hit an all-time high in USA. it can be melted down and converted without the use of the big blast furnace in steel "mini-mills" using either electric or gas for heat rather than coke.
all tampering with the economic model will create changes, and all steel goods produced in the USA will become expensive because of that.
expect Toyota to begin making appliances shortly and importing them into US.
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